Herdsmen Killings: Christians in Taraba Protest, Seek End to Attacks, Killings

Christians in Taraba on Sunday converged at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretariat in Jalingo in protest calling on the Federal Government to end the killings across the country allegedly being perpetrated by herdsmen.

The Christians who complied with the directive of the state chapter of the association to dress in black as a sign of mourning for those killed in various attacks including the killing of two Catholic Priests in Athanasius Catholic Church Mbalom in Benue State, called on the Federal Government to end the killings to avert another civil war in the country.

Some of the protesters carried various inscriptions such as “Buhari end the killings”, “Security agencies should act decisively against killer herdsmen”, “Enough is Enough”, “we deserve protection”,etc.

They however, promised to defend themselves with whatever means available should the Federal Government fail to end the killings.

Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Apostle John Aina in a presentation at the occasion, called on the Federal Government to arrest the killers and bring them to book.

According to him,

“The conspiracy of silence between the Presidency and the Security Chiefs has led the attacks to assume a new and dangerous dimension as the attackers have extended their attacks and killings to churches and murdering of anointed men of God.

“These killings must stop now, otherwise we shall do the needful. We are tired of the Federal Government sending condolence messages. We want action now.

“The attackers are not spirits. Why is it that nobody has been arrested despite the killings of hundreds of people in Benue, Taraba and other parts of the country?

“We are here to register our displeasure and condemn this conspiracy of silence of the Federal Government and the security agencies who are paid with taxpayers’ money to protect the citizens but are rather colluding with the terrorists to kill Nigerians,” he said.

The CAN Vice Chairman while condemning the conspiracy of silence in the face of the killings going on in the country, urged christians to be vigilant and protect themselves in the face of growing insecurity in the country.

Presenting the protesters message, wife of the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Barr. Mrs. Anna Darius Ishaku prayed God to intervene in the needless and unfortunate killings.

“We pray God to intervene in the unfortunate situation we have found ourselves in. We believe that there is nothing God can not do, so we pray God to intervene in this very situation,” she said.

Our correspondent reports that thousands of christians converged at the CAN Centre in Jalingo for the peaceful protest which was conducted within the premises of the CAN center.

The National President of CAN,  Rev. Samson Ayokunle had last week directed all Christians in the country to embark on a peaceful protest on Sunday April 29th to protest killings in the country.